STRUCTURAL INVESTIGATION OF GADOLINIUM DOPED YTTRIUM-ALUMINOSILICATE GLASSES AND VITROCERAMICS

Abstract

Structural changes induced by heat treatment of yttrium-aluminosilicate glasses doped with gadolinium were studied by thermal differential analysis, X-ray diffraction and Gd 3+ electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). A small amount of yttrium was replaced by gadolinium in the host glass because yttrium and gadolinium cations are quite similar, and gadolinium can be used as a structural sensor by electron paramagnetic resonance measurements. EPR results evidence small changes in the surroundings of Gd 3+ ions in the heat treated samples, as compared with the as prepared ones.